From The Press of Atlantic City — After months of public debating and accusations, the Township Committee passed a controversial “Parades and Public Assemblies” ordinance by a 3-2 split vote Tuesday night that will regulate where the public can gather on public property.

People or groups wanting to hold a “special event” on township property will now be forced to apply for a permit 30 days before their gathering and provide proof of liability insurance 10 days prior to the event. Any request for a permit can be denied “at the discretion of the township,” which will have the authority to revoke any permit.

The Republicans on the Township Committee – Mayor Janet Forman, Deputy Mayor William Kennedy and Committeewoman Kathy Chasey – all voted in favor of the ordinance.

Democratic Committeemen Michael St. Amour and Bernard Graebener voted against it.

Discussion on the ordinance inevitably reverted back to the debate over whether it was intended to restrict politicking at the township’s waste transfer station.

Forman said she was “very disheartened” that the ordinance became such a political issue, when in her opinion it was always a safety and liability issue.

Forman even asked Chief Financial Officer Dawn Stollenwerk to verify publicly that the ordinance was the result of a recommendation from the township’s Joint Insurance Fund and was never a request from Forman or Chasey, which Stollenwerk confirmed.

St. Amour said he believed JIF representatives did suggest the township take steps to improve the safety of people gathering on public property. But he argued that the interpretation of that suggestion got “out of control” in an attempt to curtail political activity at the transfer station.

Township Solicitor Doug Cody inserted a clause into the ordinance following its initial introduction that excludes gatherings of political discourse, debate or other similar activity from the ordinance.

The only restrictions to this addendum are that people gathering at the waste transfer station must do so at the facility’s exit. They would also have to wear brightly-colored vests.

These restrictions were recommended in a JIF loss control report last month.

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